MUMBAI: Building on its position as an independent television distributor, Starz Worldwide Distribution has finalised an international television distribution agreement with VH1 for the upcoming TV series ?Hit the Floor? previously known as ?Bounce?.

The TV series will contain 10 one-hour episodes in its first season.

Starz Worldwide Distribution, a division of Starz, will represent ?Hit the Floor? to all markets for television, excluding the US. The series will be available for licensing at the start of the television trade event MipTV, which runs from 8 to 11 April in Cannes, France.

?Hit the Floor? is a series that follows the lives and loves of the Devil Girls, the premier dance team for basketball team the Los Angeles Devils. When the stadium lights go up at night, all of Hollywood comes out to support the million dollar players. But in this city these men share the fame, adrenaline, money, sex and power with their dancers, the Devil Girls. The cast includes: Dean Cain, Kimberly Elise, Charlotte Ross and Taylour Paige.

Starz executive VP of worldwide distribution Gene George said, "Starz Worldwide Distribution is extremely pleased to establish a distribution relationship with VH1 for this series as ?Hit the Floor? is a fun ride and a perfect fit internationally alongside our content. Lining up a world class partner in VH1 is an acknowledgment of our world class distribution capabilities and gives us another opportunity to build upon our successes in the marketplace."

Viacom Media Networks executive VP, content and programme enterprises, entertainment and music groups Eddie Dalva said. "The series ?Hit the Floor? is VH1?s biggest scripted effort to date and should play extremely well to an international audience".

MUMBAI: In a united effort to provide independent musicians with a platform to jet start their careers, three of India?s music promoters - Vh1 India, Universal Music India and Hard Rock Cafe India have combined their efforts to create ?Contrabands?. It is a platform tailored to provide opportunities for aspiring Indie artists across the country.

Contrabands aims to to consolidate key factors like discovering, recording, promoting and managing the bands. The aim is to empower artists to be exposed and gain access to the best studios in town, top quality videos production capabilities and live gigs.

For all those aspiring artists who eat, sleep and breathe music, the time is right for aiming musicians to be a part of Contrabands. One can register on the Contrabands site where their music will be sampled by the head honchos of Vh1, UMI and Hard Rock Cafe India. The micro site will provide relevant tools for bands to register and have their music reach the right people with minimum effort allowing for artists across genres to upload their material.

After the talent is discovered, UMI will sign them to a three year recording and management deal and activate a synchronised marketing and promotional campaign that will include mass media exposure, digital distribution, live shows, brand endorsements and collaborations with international UMG artists.

Universal Music MD India, Saarc Devraj Sanyal commented, "Growing up as a musician as frontman of metal band Brahma we had to struggle for years to be heard, seen and then eventually published. I know that pain personally and we have instituted Contrabands to give the next generation a real chance to be who they?ve set out to be. Jointly partnered with VH1, India?s leading English Music and Lifestyle Channel and Hard Rock Cafe, India?s leading music venue, gives us a huge real model in place that helps us discover, curate and publish the music of tomorrow from India.

"Contrabands as a model is unique with no such structure existing anywhere in the world currently & I have no doubt that with the help of forward thinking partners like Vh1 & HRC, "Contrabands" will become the most extensive inde platform there is globally today. The playability of the model is a full 360 where the new talent will be published akin to an A-Lister star of Universal Music."

Vh1 will formulate a creatively conceptualised music video that will have an international look and feel for the artists. This video will give the bands exposure. Also apart from being integrally involved with the selection and grooming process, Vh1 will also actively monetise Contrabands through its sponsor base. Commenting on this association, Viacom18 Media senior VP, GM English entertainment Ferzad Palia said, "Vh1 has always supported Indian artists since its inception in India. This partnership with UMI and HRC takes our platform 360 degrees and is sure to spot and develop some of the best hidden jewels. We?re extremely excited to take these musicians to the next level."

As the official Tour and Venue Partner of Contrabands, Hard Rock Cafe will provide the indie artists a stage to showcase their music talent and promote them through on ground branding and various digital media.

Speaking on the venture, JSM Corp co-founder, executive director Sanjay Mahtani said, "Hard Rock has always endeavored to bring forth an extraordinary musical experience for music enthusiasts. With this novel initiative ?Contrabands?, we are delighted to join forces with two other giants in the music and entertainment field, Universal Music Group and Vh1 to build a platform for the best of India?s young indie talent to showcase their musical prowess.

"As an official Tour and Venue Partner of Contrabands, Hard Rock Cafe India provides a platform which will catapult an emerging band to success and introduce their sound to the Indian audience. Through our integrated efforts to put across a perfect amalgamation of ?discover, record, promote and manage?, Contrabands will resonate boundless opportunities for the aspiring artists."

Armed with a business model the property aspires to combine broadcasts as well as live music to create not just a national platform for indie artists but one that provides international exposure ensuring a spot at lineups of festivals like Hard Rock Calling, Glastonbury and Tomorrow Land.

MUMBAI: As the awards season starts, Viacom18?s international music channel Vh1 is gearing up to provide the best possible Grammy experience to its viewers. The channel will be airing The 2013 55th Annual Grammy Awards live on 11 February at 6.30 am and will follow it up with a prime time repeat at 9.00 pm.

The channel also has an ongoing contest by the name NESCAF? Vh1 Ticket to Ride Contest to LA since 11 January. The winners of the contest will get a chance to fly to Los Angeles where the awards are being held and watch them live. The participants have to answer a question in order to win the contest by accessing the Vh1 India microsite via the channel?s Facebook page. The winners will be announced on January 24th 2013!

The Vh1 Ticket to Ride takes place every year. In the past couple of years, Vh1 has given their fans a chance to be seated in the front row at the Golden Globes, including concerts of legendary artists like U2, Coldplay, Eminem, Ricky Martin, Pearl Jam, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Slash, and John Mayer.

This year, the Grammys will be hosted by LL Cool J and will include a tribute performance to the iconic singer Bruce Springsteen.

MUMBAI: Viacom18?s English entertainment and music channel Vh1 will air the 70th Golden Globe Awards. The event will be aired on 14 January at 6.30 am live followed by a prime time repeat telecast at 9 pm. This year?s awards will be presented by L?Oreal.

The Golden Globe Awards is an accolade bestowed by 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign.

The awards will be hosted by Golden Globe winner Tina Fey accompanied by Golden Globe nominee Amy Poehler ending Ricky Gervais? three year stint as the anchor at the awards show. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Lange and Clive Owen will be amongst those presenting at the Golden Globe Awards this year. Actor, director and producer Jodie Foster will be honoured with the Cecil B. De Mille for lifetime achievement.

Viacom18 Pvt Ltd SVP and general manager - english entertainment Ferzad Palia said, "Keeping with our promise of showcasing the best in international entertainment, Vh1 India is once again playing host to one of the most watched award shows in the world, The Golden Globes. India can look forward to tons of excitement as we build up to show day!"